Blackjack is a popular casino game amongst high-rollers and casual gamblers as it offers one of the lowest house edges in casinos. Besides having small house edges, blackjack provides players with several betting options. One of the most popular wagers in blackjack is the double down. A player should understand what is double down in Blackjack to use this strategy correctly.
Doubling down allows you to make an additional wager equal to your ante in return for an extra card. After receiving the other card, your hand is over, and now you have to wait to see what the value of the dealer's hand is. However, this betting option is risky because if you get a low card, you cannot hit again, letting you lose twice as many of your chips.
You need to know the rules of the game you are participating in before you begin betting because some variations of blackjack only let you double down with total points of 9, 10, and 11. Meanwhile, other variants of the game let you double down on any value.
Learn how to use this move in blackjack and discover when it is an excellent opportunity to put in play and maximize your earning potential.
Doubling Down When Playing Blackjack
The following are ideal situations to double down when playing blackjack.
When You Have a Hard 9 or 10
When your hand value reaches a total of 9 or 10, it is the best time to double down when the croupier shows low cards between 6 and 2. However, your hand value must be a hard nine or ten, meaning you should not have an Ace in your hand. However, if you have an A-8 or an A-9 (Soft 9 and 10), it is best to stand, regardless of what the card values the croupier shows.
When You Have a Soft 16, 17, or 18
When your hand value reaches a soft total of 16, 17, and 18, and the croupier shows low cards between 2 and 6, it is the best time to double your wager.
When You Have a Total of 11
Having this number puts you in a dominant position as it gives you a fantastic chance to hit 21. However, even if you do not reach a total value of 21 points, you have higher opportunities to get a score close to that number, and when you see the dealer has a lower total, it is time to double down and win big.
In all these scenarios, you can guarantee that you will not go bust and end up in a position with a high-value hand. When you double down properly, you are improving your chances of winning big and increasing your bankroll.
How to Signal Double Down in Blackjack
If you want to double down, you need to push a stack of chips next to your primary wager. The value of this stack should be equal to your starting bet. However, if placing the chips onto the table does not work, you can tell the croupier that you want to double down by pointing one finger to signal you want an additional card.
Doubling down is a great way to win big when playing blackjack. When you find yourself in any situation we have listed above, take advantage and play the double down move to maximize your winnings.
